Apparatus and method for media on demand commentaries

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to present an overlay that is combined with a presentation of media content at each of a plurality of computing devices to illustrate a collection of one or more user-generated comments temporally associated with portions of the presented media content such as portions of a media on demand presentation, collect one or more user-generated comments from each of the plurality of computing devices, and present the one or more user-generated comments from each of the plurality of computing devices as part of a video on demand catalog. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.application Ser. No. 12/146,131 filed on Jun. 25, 2008, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to media content and morespecifically to an apparatus and method for media on demandcommentaries.

BACKGROUND

Consumers have a number of venues to access media content. For example,consumers can view video content supplied by social networking portalssuch as MySpace, FaceBook, and YouTube over an Internet browser.Similarly, consumers can view via a set-top box video content suppliedby an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) communication system, asatellite TV communication system, cable TV communication system, orother interactive TV systems. Other forms of media content such as audiocontent, pictures, articles, or combinations thereof can also beaccessed by consumers over a public network such as the Internet.

Consumers can share with others their thoughts about media content theyhave consumed by word of mouth, text messaging (e.g., email), or otherforms of common communication. Consumers can make decisions whether topurchase or view a particular work of media content based on thecomments they consume.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-2 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services;

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal interacting withthe communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication deviceutilized in the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system for transmittingmedia content, the system operable in the communications systems ofFIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 6 depicts a screenshot illustrating commentary on a timelineassociated with a media program;

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method operable inportions of the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2 and 5;

FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communications networkresulting from the method of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a method to presentan overlay combined with a presentation of media content at each of aplurality of computing devices to illustrate a collection of one or moreuser-generated comments temporally associated with portions of thepresented media content where the media content can comprise a media ondemand presentation, collect one or more user-generated comments fromeach of the plurality of computing devices, and present the one or moreuser-generated comments from each of the plurality of computing devices.The presentation of the one or more user-generated comments can becombined with a media-on-demand presentation.

One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a system having acontroller to present an overlay combined with a presentation of mediacontent at each of a plurality of computing devices to illustrate acollection of one or more user-generated comments temporally associatedwith portions of the presented media content where the portions of thepresented media content comprises portions of a media on demandpresentation and to collect one or more user-generated comments fromeach of the plurality of computing devices.

One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a computer-readablestorage medium in a computing device having computer instructions topresent an overlay combined with a presentation of media content at eachof a plurality of computing devices to illustrate a collection of one ormore user-generated comments temporally associated with portions of thepresented media content where the portions of the presented mediacontent comprises portions of a media on demand presentation, collectone or more user-generated comments from each of the plurality ofcomputing devices, and present the one or more user-generated commentsfrom each of the plurality of computing devices as part of a video ondemand catalog.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communicationsystem 100 for delivering media content. The communication system 100can represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) broadcast mediasystem. The IPTV media system can include a super head-end office (SHO)110 with at least one super headend office server (SHS) 111 whichreceives media content from satellite and/or terrestrial communicationsystems. In the present context, media content can represent audiocontent, moving image content such as videos, still image content, orcombinations thereof. The SHS server 111 can forward packets associatedwith the media content to video head-end servers (VHS) 114 via a networkof video head-end offices (VHO) 112 according to a common multicastcommunication protocol.

The VHS 114 can distribute multimedia broadcast programs via an accessnetwork 118 to commercial and/or residential buildings 102 housing agateway 104 (such as a common residential or commercial gateway). Theaccess network 118 can represent a group of digital subscriber lineaccess multiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a servicearea interface that provide broadband services over optical links orcopper twisted pairs 119 to buildings 102. The gateway 104 can usecommon communication technology to distribute broadcast signals to mediaprocessors 106 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn presentbroadcast channels to media devices 108 such as computers or televisionsets managed in some instances by a media controller 107 (such as aninfrared or RF remote control).

The gateway 104, the media processors 106, and media devices 108 canutilize tethered interface technologies (such as coaxial or phone linewiring) or can operate over a common wireless access protocol. Withthese interfaces, unicast communications can be invoked between themedia processors 106 and subsystems of the IPTV media system forservices such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services.

Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled toone or more computing devices 130 a portion of which can operate as aweb server for providing portal services over an Internet ServiceProvider (ISP) network 132 to wireline media devices 108 or wirelesscommunication devices 116 by way of a wireless access base station 117operating according to common wireless access protocols such as WirelessFidelity (WiFi), or cellular communication technologies (such as GSM,CDMA, UMTS, WiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, and so on).

The first communication system 100 can also include a recipient mediadevice 135. The recipient media device 135 can be communicatively linkedto the ISP network 132, the one or more computing devices 130, and toother devices in the system 100. Notably, the recipient media device 135can be a STB, mobile device, personal computer, telephone, personaldigital assistant (PDA), or other device capable of receiving andtransmitting media content. Furthermore, the recipient media device 135can be configured to operate in an iTV network, which can include, butis not limited to including, IPTV, interactive cable television, andinteractive satellite television.

The recipient media device 135 can be configured to transmit requestsfor media content and commentary associated with the media content fromdevices in the system 100. The commentary can be user-generated and canbe in a temporal vicinity of the associated media content. The mediacontent and associated commentary can come from devices such as, but isnot limited to, STBs 106, media devices 108, and wireless communicationsdevice 116. Notably, the media content and associated commentary caninclude video content, audio content, still image content, text content,and other media content. Additionally, the recipient media device 135can be configured to receive and respond to requests from devices in thesystem 100 for media content and commentary associated with the mediacontent. In responding to the requests from the devices, the recipientmedia device 135 can transmit media content and commentary associatedwith the recipient media device 135 to the requesting devices.

Another distinct portion of the computing devices 130 can function as aserver (herein referred to as server 130). The server 130 can use commoncomputing and communication technology to perform the function ofreceiving, transmitting, maintaining, processing, and storing varioustypes of content. As mentioned above, such content can include videocontent, audio content, still image content, text content, and othercontent. The server 130 can maintain a client program, which can bedownloaded and/or accessed by the devices in the system 100. The clientprogram can be configured to present an overlay that can be superimposedonto the media content and can allow users of the devices in the system100 to associate a comment with media content received at the devices.

Additionally, the server 130 can be configured to receive requests forthe media content and commentary associated with the media content fromthe devices in the system 100, such as the recipient media device 135and the STBs 106. Furthermore, the server 130 can relay and/or store theactual media content and/or the commentary associated with the mediacontent, and/or relay links to the media content and/or commentaryassociated with the media content to the devices in the system 100requesting the content and/or commentary.

It will be appreciated by an artisan of ordinary skill in the art that asatellite broadcast television system can be used in place of the IPTVmedia system. In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 115supplying media content can be intercepted by a common satellite dishreceiver 131 coupled to the building 102. Modulated signals interceptedby the satellite dish receiver 131 can be submitted to the mediaprocessors 106 for generating broadcast channels which can be presentedat the media devices 108. The media processors 106 can be equipped witha broadband port to the ISP network 132 to enable infrastructureservices such as VoD and EPG described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital broadcast distributionsystem such as cable TV system 133 can be used in place of the IPTVmedia system described above. In this embodiment the cable TV system 133can provide Internet, telephony, and interactive media services.

It follows from the above illustrations that the present disclosure canapply to any present or future interactive over-the-air or landlinemedia content services.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 200employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture tofacilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switchedsystems. Communication system 200 can be overlaid or operably coupledwith communication system 100 as another representative embodiment ofcommunication system 100.

Communication system 200 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)240, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 230, and other commonnetwork elements of an IMS network 250. The IMS network 250 canestablish communications between IMS compliant communication devices(CD) 201, 202, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs 203, 205,and combinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function(MGCF) 220 coupled to a PSTN network 260.

IMS CDs 201, 202 can register with the IMS network 250 by contacting aProxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with acorresponding Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with at the HSS240. To initiate a communication session between CDs, an originating IMSCD 201 can submit a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message toan originating P-CSCF 204 which communicates with a correspondingoriginating S-CSCF 206. The originating S-CSCF 206 can submit queries tothe ENUM system 230 to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIPINVITE to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminatingcommunication device is IMS compliant.

The SIP URI can be used by an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 207 to submita query to the HSS 240 to identify a terminating S-CSCF 214 associatedwith a terminating IMS CD such as reference 202. Once identified, theI-CSCF 207 can submit the SIP INVITE to the terminating S-CSCF 214. Theterminating S-CSCF 214 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 216associated with the terminating CD 202. The P-CSCF 216 then signals theCD 202 to establish communications.

If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such asreferences 203 or 205, the ENUM system 230 can respond with anunsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originating S-CSCF206 to forward the call to the MGCF 220 via a Breakout Gateway ControlFunction (BGCF) 219. The MGCF 220 can then initiate the call to theterminating PSTN CD by common means over the PSTN network 260.

The aforementioned communication process is symmetrical. Accordingly,the terms “originating” and “terminating” in FIG. 2 are interchangeable.It is further noted that communication system 200 can be adapted tosupport video conferencing by way of common protocols such as H.323. Inaddition, communication system 200 can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs201, 203 the multimedia and Internet services of communication system100.

The server 130 of FIG. 1 can be operably coupled to the secondcommunication system 200 for purposes similar to those described above.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal 302 which canoperate from the computing devices 130 described earlier ofcommunication 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The portal 302 can be used formanaging services of communication systems 100-200. The portal 302 canbe accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with a common Internetbrowser such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer™ using an Internet-capablecommunication device such as those described for FIGS. 1-2. The portal302 can be configured, for example, to access a media processor 106 andservices managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a VoDcatalog, an EPG, a personal catalog (such as personal videos, pictures,audio recordings, etc.) stored in the media processor, provisioning IMSservices described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioningcellular phone services, and so on.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device 400.Communication device 400 can serve in whole or in part as anillustrative embodiment of the communication devices of FIGS. 1-2. Thecommunication device 400 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 402 (herein transceiver 402), a user interface (UI) 404, apower supply 414, a location receiver 416, and a controller 406 formanaging operations thereof. The transceiver 402 can support short-rangeor long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, WiFi,Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), or cellularcommunication technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologiescan include, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE,EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, and next generation cellular wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 402 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCPIP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 404 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 408 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, joystick, mouse, ornavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device400. The keypad 408 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 400 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad 408 canrepresent a numeric dialing keypad commonly used by phones, and/or aQwerty keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 404 can further include adisplay 410 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display),OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technologyfor conveying images to an end user of the communication device 400. Inan embodiment where the display 410 is touch-sensitive, a portion or allof the keypad 408 can be presented by way of the display.

The UI 404 can also include an audio system 412 that utilizes commonaudio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heardonly in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such asspeakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system 412 can furtherinclude a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. Theaudio system 412 can also be used for voice recognition applications.The UI 404 can further include an image sensor 413 such as a chargedcoupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 414 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy tothe components of the communication device 400 to facilitate long-rangeor short-range portable applications. The location receiver 416 canutilize common location technology such as a global positioning system(GPS) receiver for identifying a location of the communication device400 based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS satellites,thereby facilitating common location services such as navigation.

The communication device 400 can use the transceiver 402 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi or Bluetooth access point bycommon power sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or a signal time of arrival (TOA) or timeof flight (TOF). The controller 406 can utilize computing technologiessuch as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or avideo processor with associated storage memory such a Flash, ROM, RAM,SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies.

The communication device 400 can be adapted to perform the functions ofthe media processor 106, the media devices 108, or the portablecommunication devices 116 of FIG. 1, as well as the IMS CDs 201-202 andPSTN CDs 203-205 of FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that thecommunication device 400 can also represent other common devices thatcan operate in communication systems 100-200 of FIGS. 1-2 such as agaming console and a media player.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system 500 fortransmitting media content, the system 500 being operable in portions ofthe communications systems of FIGS. 1-2. The system 500 can include oneor more media devices 502, 504, and 506, which can be configured todeliver media content to display devices 508 a-c and deliver and/orreceive media content from server 510, communications device 512, andcomputing device 514. The media devices 502, 504, and 506 can be STBs orother similar media devices. The display devices 508 a-c can include anydevice capable of displaying and/or playing media content such astelevisions, cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDA),computers, and the like. The server 510 can be a device including theoperative features of server 130, among other features. Thecommunications device 512 can include, for example, a mobile device, acellular phone, wireless device, or other communications device and thecomputing device 514 can be a computer or laptop.

The server 510 can be utilized to communicatively link the media devices502 to the other devices of the system 500. Notably, the server 510 canbe configured to receive, transmit, maintain, and store various types ofmedia content. Additionally, the server 510 can include a clientprogram, which can be accessed, downloaded, and/or otherwise utilized bythe devices in the system 500. The client program can present an overlaythat can be superimposed onto media content that is displayed and/orreceived at the devices in the system 500. Users of the client programcan use the client program to associate commentary/comments with themedia content accessed by the user.

Users of the client program can select a portion of the media contentand insert a comment in a temporal vicinity of the media content. Forexample, if the user is watching a television show, the user can selecta particular scene or segment, or select a button which at the time thebutton is depressed creates a temporal association with a scene orsegment of the show. Responsive to this selection, the user can create acommentary by common means such as by keyboard input, or a microphonethat can captures speech which can be translated to text using commonvoice recognition techniques. The commentary (or user-generated comment)in turn can be associated with the scene or segment at the particularpoint in time that the scene or segment is shown. Of course, multipleusers experiencing the same media content (synchronously orasynchronously between the users) can each insert their own comments toassociate with the media content as well.

Referring now also to FIG. 6, a screenshot 600 illustrating commentaryon a timeline associated with a media program, is illustratively shown.The screenshot 600 features an overlay generated by the client program.The overlay can include menu buttons and other operative controls whichare featured on the screenshot 600. Notably, the overlay can include atimeline 601, which can reflect the entire duration of a media programplaying at a user's media device.

Screenshot 600 illustrates comments inserted at various points in thetimeline 601 of the media program. The iconic spheres in the screenshot600 can indicate that a comment has been inserted at that particularpoint in the timeline 601 of the media program. For example, a singlecomment 602, a single comment 604, a single comment 606, and fourcomments 608 have been inserted into the timeline 601. Once theuser-generated comments are associated with their respective mediasegments, the user can utilize the client program to transmit the mediacontent, commentary/comments, and/or links to the content and commentaryto the server 510.

The server 510 can be configured to access, store, and maintain themedia content, commentary, and/or links to the media content andcommentary. Additionally, the server 510 can be configured to maintaininformation about the media content and commentary. If only the links tothe media content are sent to the server 510, the server 510 can beconfigured to identify and extract the actual media content associatedwith the link. Similarly, if only the links to the commentary are sentto the server 510, the server 510 can be configured to extract theactual commentary associated with the link.

The server 510 and/or the other devices in the system 500 can beconfigured to receive requests for the commentary and/or the mediacontent from recipient media devices, which can be the devices in thesystem 500. For example, media device 502 can transmit a request toserver 510 for media content and commentary from communications device512. When the server 510 receives a request from a recipient mediadevice, the server 510 can transmit at least a portion of the actualmedia content and commentary and/or the links to the media content andcommentary to the recipient media device. If only the links are sent tothe recipient media device, the recipient media device can access themedia content and/or commentary via the links.

The recipient media device can then be configured to present the mediacontent and/or commentary through a display device, such as displaydevices 508 a-c. Notably, the users of the recipient media device canutilize the client program much like the users of the media devicesgenerating the commentary. Additionally, user-generated commentary andmedia content can be generated at the recipient media device and can betransmitted to other devices in the system 500 that request thecommentary and/or media content generated at the recipient media device.

In an embodiment, the server 510 can prompt a media device, such asmedia devices 502, 504, and 506, to set a range of the media content tobe transmitted to the server 510. For example, the media device can seta range of the media content, which is thirty seconds before and thirtyseconds after any commentary associated with the media content. Notably,the range can be defined by vertical start and end lines within thetimeline of the media program that is presented by the client program,such as those surrounding comment 604 in FIG. 6. In another embodiment,the user of the media device can set the range without being prompted bythe server 510.

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative method 700 operating in portions of thecommunication systems of FIG. 1-2, and FIG. 5. Method 700 can begin withstep 702 in which a system such as server 510 presents an overlaycombined with a presentation of media content at each of a plurality ofcomputing devices such as the media devices of FIG. 5. For convenienceand illustration purposes only, reference to the system in the flowdiagram of FIG. 7 will be replaced with server 510, and reference to acomputing device will be replaced with a media device. It will beappreciated that a system and a computing device can take on more thanthese illustrative embodiments. With this in mind, in step 704, theserver 510 can collect user-generated comments as described earlier fromeach of the media devices where the comments can be temporallyassociated with portions of the presented media content.

At 706, the method can combine the user-generated comments with atrailer for a VoD presentation and/or the method can appended thecomments to items on an online video on demand catalog. In this regard,the present the one or more user-generated comments from each of theplurality of computing devices cab be combined with a video on demandtrailer. At 708, the method can monitor the user-generated comments todetermined which portions of the media on demand presentation has themost frequent comments. In this manner, a video on demand catalog withvideo clips having portions with the most frequent comments can bepresented at 710. In another aspect at 712, the user-generated commentscan be generated by a predetermined group of users (such as a focusgroup) selected by a common geographic area or a common subjectinterest. These groups of users can be selected by the carrier orprovider of VoD services or can be automatically selected based on theiruser profiles. At 714, the method can combine the one or moreuser-generated comments temporally associated with portions of thepresented media content with director comments or actor comments orsupporting staff comments which are also temporally associated withportions of the presented media content. Such comments be madedistinguishable as to their source. For example, the method at 716 candistinguish between commentaries of users, directors, actors andsupporting staff using distinguishable graphical user interfaces (GUIs)between the users and the directors, actors or supporting staff.

The embodiments herein can be used to improve VoD sales or generallyprovide additional useful information to users of an online communityenabling them to make informed decisions for their viewing selections.Viewers of VoD movies can provide commentaries for a particular movieusing the various embodiments described. Along with the movie trailers,a VoD catalog can show video clips with the most frequent comments toentice viewers to rent a movie for example. The service provider couldincentivize viewers to share their commentaries. Alternatively oradditional, a service provider can hire focus groups by region or bysubject matter interests to provide commentaries that are more targetedto the intended consumers of such content. The service provider can alsoprovide Director's comments, Actor's comments, supporting staff, orother comments. A GUI presented to a user can show an intermix ofcomments from the public and comments from the producers of the video.The commentaries can be distinguished by a GUI legend. Note that theembodiments are not just limited to video. It can also be used foraudio-only content and video (with no audio) content.

Note that the media device and/or users can be identified by any form ofidentifiable data (e.g., telephone number, user login, social securityID, biometric ID, STB identifier, SIP URI, static IP address, etc.).Once the media devices and/or users have been identified, the server 510can be programmed to notify the users by transmitting a message to theirrespective media devices. The message can indicate that a correlationhas been detected which may warrant filtering with established setparental controls. The server 510 can also establish a social networkaccording to the users established control settings. In this regard, theserver 510 creates a virtual or adaptive social network 802 as shown inthe communication system 800 of FIG. 8. The social network can beadaptive from the perspective that the server 510 can be programmed tomanage the inclusion or exclusion of users and their media devices overthe course of time. The adaptive social network 802 can be implementedwith common networking technology such as virtual private network (VPN)connections established between the identified media devices, or byother common networking techniques which can be established through thenetworks of FIGS. 1-3. The adaptive social network 802 can also becreated by way of existing social networking applications such asFaceBook, MySpace, and so on.

Once a social network has been established, the server 510 can continueto collect user-generated comments from the users partaking in theadaptive social network 802 by way of their media devices. The server510 can determine if the user-generated comments can be appropriate of aparticular focus group or whether highly frequent comments can beappended to portions of a VoD presentation or catalog item correspondingto the VoD presentation.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. For example, the server 510 can bean integral part of a social networking application (e.g., MySpace).With the above technique, sub-groups of social networks can be createdwithin the social network application where content filtering orcommentary filter is provided in accordance with a parental controlsetting. Additionally, method 700 can be adapted so that all or aportion of the steps described above can be performed in a distributedsystem. That is, the method can be implemented at each of the mediadevices without a server.

It should be further noted that the media devices generatinguser-generated comments can be generally represented as computingdevices of any form having the computing and communication resources toperform the aforementioned embodiments. Thus a computing device can be amobile phone, a lap top computer, a desktop computing, a gaming console,or any other device capable of establishing a communication session withanother device and performing the embodiments of the present disclosurein whole or in part.

Other suitable modifications can be applied to the present disclosurewithout departing from the scope of the claims below. Accordingly, thereader is directed to the claims section for a fuller understanding ofthe breadth and scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 900 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operatesas a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or anymachine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly anyelectronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 900 may include a processor 902 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 904 and a static memory 906, which communicate with each othervia a bus 908. The computer system 900 may further include a videodisplay unit 910 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system900 may include an input device 912 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 914 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 916, a signal generationdevice 918 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 920.

The disk drive unit 916 may include a machine-readable medium 922 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 924)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions 924may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 904, the static memory 906, and/or within the processor 902during execution thereof by the computer system 900. The main memory 904and the processor 902 also may constitute machine-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containinginstructions 924, or that which receives and executes instructions 924from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a networkenvironment 926 can send or receive voice, video or data, and tocommunicate over the network 926 using the instructions 924. Theinstructions 924 may further be transmitted or received over a network926 via the network interface device 920.

While the machine-readable medium 922 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure.

The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken toinclude, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memorycard or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape;and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-containedinformation archive or set of archives is considered a distributionmedium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of amachine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separately claimed subject matter.

1. A method at one or more computing devices, comprising steps to:present an overlay combined with a presentation of media content at eachof a plurality of computing devices on an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV)network to illustrate a collection of one or more user-generatedcomments temporally associated with portions of the presented mediacontent, wherein the portions of the presented media content comprisesportions of a media on demand presentation; collect one or moreuser-generated comments from each of the plurality of computing devices;and present the one or more user-generated comments from each of theplurality of computing devices.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theportions of the media on demand presentation is a portion of a video ondemand presentation.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or moreuser-generated comments are combined with a video on demand trailer. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein the user-generated comments are monitoredto determine which portions of the media on demand presentation has themost frequent comments.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the methodpresents a video on demand catalog with video clips having portions withthe most frequent comments.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein theuser-generated comments are generated by a predetermined group of usersselected by a common geographic area or a common subject interest. 7.The method of claim 1, wherein the method combines the one or moreuser-generated comments temporally associated with portions of thepresented media content with director comments or actor comments orsupporting staff comments which are also temporally associated withportions of the presented media content.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein the method distinguishes between commentaries of users,directors, actors and supporting staff using distinguishable graphicaluser interfaces between the users and the directors, actors orsupporting staff.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the portions of themedia on demand presentation is a portion of a video on demandpresentation and the one or more user generated commentaries areappended to items on an online video on demand catalog.
 10. A system,comprising a controller to: present an overlay combined with apresentation of media content at each of a plurality of computingdevices to illustrate a collection of one or more user-generatedcomments temporally associated with portions of the presented mediacontent, wherein the portions of the presented media content comprisesportions of a media on demand presentation; and collect one or moreuser-generated comments from each of the plurality of computing devices.11. The system of claim 10, wherein the system further presents the oneor more user-generated comments from each of the plurality of computingdevices as part of a video on demand catalog.
 12. The system of claim10, wherein the portions of the media on demand presentation is aportion of a video on demand presentation.
 13. The system of claim 10,wherein the system combines the one or more user-generated comments witha video on demand trailer.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein thesystem monitors the user-generated comments for portions of the media ondemand presentation having the most frequent comments.
 15. The system ofclaim 14, wherein the system presents a video on demand catalog withvideo clips having portions with the most frequent comments.
 16. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the computing device is one of a computerand a portable communication device and the system operates over anInternet Protocol TV (IPTV) network or an interactive TV (iTV) network.17. The system of claim 10, wherein the user-generated comments aregenerated by a predetermined group of users selected by a commongeographic area or a common subject interest forming a focus group. 18.The system of claim 10, wherein the presentation of media content isaudio only or video only or multimedia content.
 19. A computer-readablestorage medium in a computing device, comprising computer instructionsto: present an overlay combined with a presentation of media content ateach of a plurality of computing devices to illustrate a collection ofone or more user-generated comments temporally associated with portionsof the presented media content, wherein the portions of the presentedmedia content comprises portions of a media on demand presentation;collect one or more user-generated comments from each of the pluralityof computing devices; and. present the one or more user-generatedcomments from each of the plurality of computing devices as part of avideo on demand catalog.
 20. The storage medium of claim 19, wherein themedia on demand presentation is a video on demand presentation and theplurality of computing devices operate over an Internet Protocol TV(IPTV) network or an interactive TV (iTV) network.